CFO Sink’s Consumer Service Specialists Recover $11.5 Million in Six Months

7/15/2009

CFO SINK’S CONSUMER SERVICE SPECIALISTS RECOVER $11.5 MILLION IN SIX MONTHSSingle case results in $1.2 million payment for unpaid hospital claims

TALLAHASSEE—Florida CFO Alex Sink announced today that her Division of Consumer Services has helped Floridians recover more than $11.5 million in the first six months of this year in claim payments and premium refunds, including one case that resulted in a $1.2 million payment on a consumer’s unpaid hospital claims.

The recoveries were logged between January 1, 2009, and June 30, 2009. In 2008, CFO Sink’s Consumer Services Division helped recover more than $14 million. The Division of Consumer Services assists Floridians with financial and insurance-related matters including disaster preparation and insurance fraud as well as questions and complaints regarding auto, home, health, life, and small businesses.

“I consider it my responsibility to ensure that everyday Floridians have someone fighting for them and standing in their corner,” said CFO Sink. “Our staff is dedicated to protecting Floridians and their assets and I am very proud of what we have accomplished.”

In the case recovering the largest single sum -- $1.2 million -- Insurance Consumer Specialist Guy Thibaut, who works in the Division’s Largo Call Center, intervened on behalf of a consumer who requested help getting hospital claims paid. After Thibaut got involved on the consumer’s behalf, the insurance company determined that the claims were denied in error and made payment.

In a letter written in February 2009, another Floridian thanked CFO Sink for “prompt and thorough assistance” as he attempted to finalize a claim with his warranty company. In this case, Insurance Consumer Specialist Alejandro Alvarado helped to get payment on the claim, which had been outstanding since October 2008. “Thanks for such a positive outcome,” the consumer wrote.

CFO Sink’s Division of Consumer Services has also gone above and beyond to help Floridians in need. For instance, the Division received an e-mail from Leandra Allen of Orlando asking for help after her husband was told by his HMO that he would have to go to Gainesville or Tampa to seek treatment for advanced leukemia. Mrs. Allen had minimal leave time at work and faced the possibility of losing her job and insurance if the treatment could not be provided locally. Insurance Consumer Specialist Greg Mauldin and Pamela White, a management analyst with the Bureau of Education, Advocacy and Research, convinced the HMO to review the case. The HMO ultimately granted the request and approved the treatment of Mrs. Allen’s husband at an Orlando area hospital.

For more information or for assistance, log on to www.MyFloridaCFO.com or call our consumer helpline at 1-877-MY-FL-CFO.